4WD World Newsletter

You can get more out of your tank by simply looking after your tyres. We give you the low down on how: check your tyre pressure and tyre wear!

Tyre PressureAll tyres are inflated with air, which acts as a buffer between your car and the road. Over time, all tyres slowly deflate, so it is necessary to check the air pressure at monthly intervals. Incorrect tyre pressure can reduce the life of your tyres, and may make your car less safe to drive. It can also lead to greater fuel consumption.

The most common problem with tyres is low pressure. Low pressure causes irregular wear, poor cornering and braking, and in extreme cases, tyre blowouts.

How to Check Your Tyre Pressure• Always check your tyre pressure when they are cool, as warmer tyres will give misleading pressure readings.• All car manufacturers recommend a particular pressure for the tyres on their cars. These are listed on a sticker on the car itself (usually between 32psi-36psi).• Never let your tyres go below 20psi.• Remove the screw-on dust cap. Metal caps are better than the more common plastic ones, because they can retain the pressure if the valve fails.• Place the tyre gauge squarely on the valve and check the pressure.• Inflate the tyre as necessary. It is recommended to invest in your own pressure pen as public pressure gauges can unreliable.• Some tyre gauges will have a dial on them where you need to manually check the reading, while others you can dial your pressure into a machine and it will automatically stop when this pressure level is reached.• Refit the dust cap, making sure no dirt gets in, as this will cause a slow leak in the valve.

Tyre WearWhile checking the tyre pressure, also look for tyre wear or damage. Uneven wear and damage is unsafe and means that the tyres are not working efficiently which can also lead to an increase in fuel consumption.

How To Check Your Tyre Wear• All tyres have inbuilt indicators to show when they are worn too far.• As a general rule, if the tread is not as deep as the head of a match, it is unsafe and illegal.• If there is noticeably uneven wear then the wheel may need rebalancing, or there maybe something wrong with the steering alignment. Either way, your local Hankook dealer can advise you of the correct course of action.• They will also check for any damage to the tyre wall, such as splits or cracking